Card-shaped memory device incorporating IC card function, adapter for the same and host device

Abstract

A card-shaped memory device includes a power supply terminal, an antenna terminal, a control circuit, a power generating circuit, and a switching circuit. The power supply terminal is provided to receive power supplied from a host device. The antenna terminal is connected to a non-contact communication antenna provided at the host device, and receives a signal from the antenna. The control circuit has a wireless communication function and an IC card function. The power generating circuit is included in the control circuit, and generates power based on the signal from the antenna. The switching circuit is included in the control circuit, and effects switching between supplying of power from the power supply terminal and supplying of power from the power generating circuit.

1. A card-shaped memory device comprising:
 a power supply terminal to which power is to be supplied from a host device; 
 an antenna terminal connected to a non-contact communication antenna provided at the host device, and configured to receive a signal from the antenna; 
 a first control circuit having a wireless communication function and an IC card function; 
 a power generating circuit included in the first control circuit, and configured to generate power based on the signal from the antenna; 
 a switching circuit included in the first control circuit, and configured to switch supplying of the power from the power supply terminal and supplying of the power generated from the power generating circuit; 
 a memory chip; and 
 a second control circuit connectable to the host device and coupled to the memory chip and the switching circuit, and configured to receive a command, issued from the host device, which controls switching of the supplying of the power from the power supply terminal and the supplying of the power generated from the power generating circuit. 
 
   
   
     2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the command is an McEX command. 
   
   
     3. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a non-contact interface circuit which is connected to the antenna terminal and the switching circuit, and to which power is to be supplied from the switching circuit. 
   
   
     4. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a contact interface circuit which is connected to the second control circuit to supply the command from the second control circuit to the switching circuit. 
   
   
     5. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is a flash memory comprising NAND EEPROM cells. 
   
   
     6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the memory chip comprises a region for storing user data and a region for storing data for use in mutual authentication between the device and the host device. 
   
   
     7. A memory device having a memory chip comprising:
 a power supply terminal to which power is to be supplied from a host device; 
 an antenna terminal communicating with a non-contact communication antenna which is provided at the host device, and configured to receive a signal from the antenna; and 
 a control circuit having a wireless communication function and an IC card function, the control circuit comprising,
 a power generating circuit configured to generate power based on the signal from the antenna, 
 a switching circuit configured to switch supplying of the power from the power supply terminal and supplying of the power generated from the power generating circuit, and 
 a controller connected to the host device, the memory chip and the switching circuit, and configured to receive a command to control switching of the supplying of the power from the power supply terminal and the supplying of the power generated from the power generating circuit, the command being issued from the host device. 
 
 
   
   
     8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the command is an McEX command. 
   
   
     9. The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a non-contact interface circuit which is connected to the antenna terminal and the switching circuit, and to which power is to be supplied from the switching circuit. 
   
   
     10. The device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a contact
 interface circuit which is connected to the controller to supply the command from the controller to the switching circuit. 
 
   
   
     11. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the memory chip is a flash memory comprising NAND EEPROM cells. 
   
   
     12. The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the memory chip comprises a region for storing user data and a region for storing data for use in mutual authentication between the device and the host device.